The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Shunryu Suzuki, in his classic book about Zen Buddhism, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, explains that expert minds are closed by their opinions. They know the answer to every problem; and what they don't know, they fake.
The beginner's mind, on the other hand, approaches every situation with an open mind, ready to see it with fresh eyes. If there is a problem it can be addressed with both the wisdom of experience and the creativity of the present moment.
Jesus's contemporaries clearly did not know what to make of him. But the experts had a ready, simple, and wrong answer, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
It made no sense but that was beside the point. Those who wanted to believe the Pharisees would accept it; the rest could only scratch their heads and wonder, "Where are these people coming from?"
The virgin martyr Saint Maria Goretti challenges us with her simple direct answer to sexual opportunity, "No." Even at the cost of her life, she refused. Her story makes no sense to today's experts who urge their children to use whatever means are available to avoid pregnancy. They assume the children will be sexually active; that's not even a question. But they should be careful to avoid conception, as if conceiving babies is the sin. Saint Maria knew a deeper, simpler truth as she fought her killer.
The Spirit of God opens our minds to the encounter with salvation. It speaks even to those who do not await for, or expect, deliverance. If they are willing to see the signs of the times they will hear God's voice.
The Spirit speaks to beginners that word which is ever ancient, ever new.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.